After 70 hours of research, talking with four experts, and testing 30 models since 2014, we recommend the Chef’sChoice WafflePro Classic Belgian 840B for most people. It consistently delivers perfect-looking, evenly colored waffles no matter what kind of batter you use. It’s also highly customizable, allowing you to choose between six different brownness settings and adjust for either a uniform texture or a crisp exterior and moist interior.

Buying Options

Though the Chef’sChoice WafflePro Classic Belgian 840B produces only one waffle at a time, it’s still good for feeding a crowd, as everyone can get a waffle perfectly suited to their tastes. Settings allow you to select a texture, as well as regulate brownness levels, which should please enthusiasts of thin-and-crispy and moist-and-fluffy waffles alike. Small and compact, with a locking lid, this model stores vertically or horizontally and you can clean it easily with a damp cloth.

Buying Options

The Cuisinart WMR-CA Round Classic makes consistently excellent waffles quickly and its compact design is perfect for small spaces. It produces just one round, thin waffle at a time, so this model is a good choice only if you like your waffles thin and crispy and don’t need to make multiple waffles at once. Its hardware also feels cheaper than that of our other picks.

Buying Options

For families or Belgian-waffle lovers the Krups GQ502 4 Slice Belgian is a better budget choice than the Cuisinart or even the Chef’sChoice 840B because it makes four deep-pocketed waffles at a time. It cooks waffles evenly but was one of the slowest machines we tested, taking five to eight minutes to finish. We think that’s a reasonable trade-off, though, if you want to cook a lot of waffles at once and aren’t ready to upgrade to the Breville Smart Waffle Pro 4 Slice. The Krups is also one of very few models we found with removable plates, which make cleanup much easier.

Buying Options

If you don’t mind paying a lot more for a one-use machine, Breville’s Smart Waffle Pro 4 Slice is well worth the asking price—scoring high marks on consistency, versatility, capacity, and speed. While our other top-ranking models turn out one thin waffle at a time, the Breville makes four deep-pocketed square specimens in minutes and cooks them unfailingly uniformly. It has a wide range of settings to play with to adjust texture and brownness levels, and an automatic countdown timer lets you know exactly when the waffles will be ready.

Why you should trust us

Sarah Zorn, who wrote the 2019 update, is a cookbook author and recipe developer and tester. She’s also the former food editor of Northside Media, where she oversaw culinary content for Brooklyn magazine, the Taste Talks festivals, and BKmag.com. She also conducts product tests for USA Today’s Reviewed.com.

Marguerite Preston, who wrote the 2016 update, is a former professional baker and now Wirecutter’s kitchen editor. She also once had a job that often required making dozens and dozens of waffles in one go. Winnie Yang, who wrote the original guide, is now a Wirecutter editor. Before that, she worked in the food industry—with stints in a restaurant kitchen, cookware retail, and chocolate making—for over a decade, and was the managing editor of the print quarterly The Art of Eating.

Who should get this

Although the benefits of a waffle maker are self-evident, you should consider a couple of things before buying one. First, think about what kind of waffles you like: thin, American-style ones (think Eggo) or thicker, Belgian-style ones? Most waffle makers can make only one or the other. We have picks in both styles and think that they all make great waffles, but if you’re picky about thickness, that might be a deciding factor.

Also, though you can make things like grilled cheese in a waffle maker, for the most part it’s a single-use appliance. If you have a small kitchen or plan to make waffles only occasionally, you may be happiest with something compact and inexpensive that does the job.

How we picked

Waffle makers range widely in quality and features, not to mention in the waffles they produce. And opinions on what exactly constitutes a great waffle vary enormously: Some people want them brown and crispy, others like them softer and fluffier. So we set out to find the model that could make the most broadly appealing waffles with the least hassle.

To decide which machines to test, we looked at top-rated waffle makers on Cook’s Country (subscription required), Good Housekeeping, and food blogs and websites like The Kitchn, in addition to the best sellers on Amazon. We eliminated stovetop models (which require a certain amount of skill to use successfully), as well as machines with interchangeable plates for other uses like pressing sandwiches. Our experts agreed that a device dedicated solely to waffle making works better than one that multitasks. We debated the pros and cons of flip models (which use gravity to evenly disperse and cook batter) but after testing a few for the original version of this guide, decided to omit them too. Flip models take up a lot more space and didn’t yield better results in our tests.

Opinions on what exactly constitutes a great waffle vary enormously.

In previous testing we also eliminated models over $100, believing there was no point in spending so much money on such a simple, single-use machine. But in 2019 we added a few higher-end waffle irons to the mix to see if paying top dollar is a real investment in function or just a lot of flash.

Of the models we ended up testing, here are the qualities that separated the great from the merely average.

Consistent

First and foremost, you want a waffle maker that effectively and evenly cooks the batter. The plates need to make full contact with the batter, or else it won’t brown. And they should brown the waffle thoroughly on both sides, without hot and cold spots. The device should also effectively release steam, so you don’t end up with a soggy waffle. And it should perform equally well whether you use a thick buttermilk or Bisquick batter, or a thinner, yeasted batter.

Testing stacks and stacks of waffles. Photo: Michael Hession

Feature-rich

Special functions make a surprisingly big difference when it comes to waffle irons. Basic models have lights that let you know when the iron is preheated and when the waffles are done. But who wants to stand and stare at a light, waiting for it to turn from red to green? Audible indicators like beeps or chimes are highly preferable so you can tend to other tasks while making breakfast. A machine should also be able to switch between different browning levels easily. That way, you can make dark waffles for Aunt Mary and superlight, barely browned waffles for your cousin. Our favorite models even take things a step further, with some allowing you to customize texture with the tap of a button or adjust heat based on waffle type.

Fast

Waiting five minutes for a machine that makes four waffles is reasonable. But who wants to devote the same amount of time to cooking just one? In general, smaller-capacity machines should trade off with faster cooking times.

Easy to use and clean

A waffle maker’s instructions should be clear and its controls intuitive to use. Nonstick plates are a common feature these days and they make the baking process and cleanup much less painful—especially if they’re removable. Built-in or removable drip trays are also helpful in case of overflow. And as far as safety is concerned, the handle and controls should stay cool while the machine is on and should keep your hands well away from any hot surfaces.

Easy to store

Seamless storage is important because few of us have enough counter space to permanently devote to a waffle iron. Models should be lightweight (without being flimsy) and reasonably compact so they can fit inside of a cabinet or drawer. Included cord storage and locking handles are also useful, especially for models that you can store upright as well as flat.

How we tested

Pouring batter into the Krups GQ502D. Video: Michael Hession

For our 2019 update we tested six models against our four previous picks. We made at least two rounds of Bisquick waffles and one round of yeast-raised waffles in each model. At first we followed the machines’ indicators to determine when the waffles were done, and if a machine had no indicator, we waited for it to stop steaming, as chef Matt Maichel suggested. We allowed for flexibility in cooking time, so if one needed more time, we would shut the lid and let it cook a little longer. We tasted each waffle (and got some informal input from a couple of volunteers), taking into consideration people’s varying waffle preferences. We also tested the range of each model’s brownness settings and factored in speed, timing how long it took for each model first to preheat and then for it to cook both Bisquick and yeast-raised waffles on multiple brownness and texture settings.

Buying Options

The Chef’sChoice WafflePro Classic Belgian 840B produces beautifully golden, crisp-on-the-outside, evenly browned waffles. It also has a number of features that make it easier to use than most other machines. A numbered dial gives you careful control over waffle doneness, while a toggle switch lets you control texture. Lights and a loud beep clearly signal when your iron is heated or waffles are done. The nonstick plates release waffles cleanly, and an overflow channel catches excess batter, so cleanup is a breeze. Plus, the compact Chef’sChoice 840B stores either flat or upright, so it fits conveniently in most kitchens.

In our tests, waffles from this model consistently came out beautiful and brown, with nice, tender interiors and a light, crisp crust. And the Chef’sChoice 840B performed equally well with both Bisquick and a thinner, yeast batter.

The stark difference between the pale, floppy waffles made on the “1” setting and the dark, crisp waffles made on the “6” setting. Photo: Sarah Kobos

A numbered color-control wheel ranges from 1 to 6, and incremental changes really affect brownness. (With other machines, like the Hamilton Beach 26009, adjusting brownness settings made no discernible difference.) But the Chef’sChoice brand’s so-called “Taste/Texture Select” feature really makes its waffle makers stand out from the rest. In fact, no other brands tested—save for the costly Breville Smart Waffle Pro 4 Slice—allow for such customization. You can toggle the texture switch between “Uniform Texture” and “Crisp Exterior/Moist Interior” settings. Selecting the former results in slower, deeper cooking and a crisper, drier waffle. The latter pops out waffles in a fraction of the time, creating a quick brown crust while leaving the interiors fluffy and custardy; quite an achievement for a rather thin waffle.

Although the Chef’sChoice WafflePro 840B emerged as our top pick for classic waffles, that texture-select feature is available on most of the company’s models. Of those we tested, we highly recommend the WafflePro 830, which makes heart-shaped waffles, as a fun pick for families and kids. And though not without problems (detailed later in the guide), the WafflePro 854 definitely delivers on capacity, producing four thick waffles at a time.

The Chef’sChoice cooks quite fast on certain settings. Opting for the “Crisp Exterior/Moist Interior” setting and hiking it up to browning level 5 (our preferred combo) will garner a pretty perfect waffle in about 40 seconds flat. Which means you can knock out four waffles in a row in under three minutes. That speed partially makes up for the fact that the Chef’sChoice makes only one small waffle at a time—compared with the Krups GQ502 4 Slice Belgian, which averaged five minutes to cook four waffles at once. Though when feeding a crowd, you may still find it more convenient to make several waffles simultaneously than to repeatedly ladle in batter.

A red light on the Chef’sChoice, helpfully marked “Baking,” lets you know when the machine is preheating or the waffle is cooking. A separate green light, marked “Ready,” indicates the machine is ready for use or the waffle is done. These indicators are bright and easy to read, unlike on some machines, where it’s hard to tell if the weak light is on or off. The Chef’sChoice 840B also beeps loudly when baking is finished, which means you can focus on frying bacon without worrying about overcooking your waffles. It’s loud enough that we could easily hear it from the next room but the sound is neither persistent nor unpleasant.

Overall, the Chef’sChoice 840B was as easy to use as any machine we tested, with a set-it-and-forget-it system that made the process particularly simple. Waffles popped out cleanly from the nonstick plates and no repeated oiling was necessary. Like all waffle makers, the Chef’sChoice does get hot on top of the lid. But the lid is otherwise surrounded by cool-touch surfaces, making burning yourself a very distant possibility; the same couldn’t be said of competitors like the Hamilton Beach or All-Clad, where it’s hard to avoid contact with hot spots.

You can coil the cord around the underside of the machine for tidy storage. Photo: Sarah Kobos

Because the Chef’sChoice 840B is quite small and compact—measuring about 12 by 13 by 5 inches—it’s easy to stash in a cabinet. A spool on the underside allows you to wrap and secure the power cord easily, and because the lid locks in place, you can store this machine either upright or flat. The construction is nice and sturdy, as the hinge doesn’t wobble, and the dial turns smoothly and feels reliable. Chef’sChoice also covers the 840B with a one-year warranty.

Flaws but not dealbreakers

The Chef’sChoice 840B makes just one round, thin-walled waffle at a time, compared with the the Krups GQ502 4 Slice Belgian, which turned out four 1-inch tall waffles per batch. And it’s slow on certain settings: the longest the machine took during testing was just under five minutes when set to “Uniform Texture.” That said, speed is a real moving target when it comes to the 840B, and as noted earlier, it can make a waffle in about 40 seconds when switched to the “Crisp Exterior/Moist Interior” setting on level 5.

Another point of mild frustration is that you can’t pop out the plates, as with the Krups GQ502 4 Slice Belgian, which is a helpful feature when it comes to cleaning. However, the Chef’sChoice 840B isn’t prone to batter overflow, as many of the other machines we tested were. And the grids aren’t especially deep, making it easy enough to wipe down with a damp, soapy towel. And because the machine is small and light, it’s easy to lift or move so you can access and scrub its surfaces.

Buying Options

If you prefer a thin American-style waffle or want something cheaper and smaller than the Chef’sChoice 840B or the Breville Smart Waffle Pro 4 Slice, get the Cuisinart WMR-CA Round Classic. The waffles we made with it were consistently tasty and crunchy, though not quite as perfect looking as those made by the Chef’sChoice 840B and Breville Smart Waffle Pro 4 Slice, because the Cuisinart’s plate made a browner circle in the center of the waffle. But that’s just an aesthetic issue: The waffles were just as crisp and delicious at the paler outer edge as in the center.

This machine is also a speed demon, churning out waffles in about 50 seconds using Bisquick batter, and two minutes with yeast. Seriously, by the time we lowered the lid and turned around, the waffles were pretty much ready to pull—making us feel like efficient short-order home cooks. So although the Cuisinart produces just one 6½-inch-diameter, ½-inch-thick waffle at a time, we’d say it’s still a viable option for feeding a crowd, though not as conveniently as a model that can make multiple waffles at once.

The Cuisinart has five discrete settings for browning control, though the slider had a lot of play, making it difficult to tell what setting it was on. And while the manual recommends the middle (3) setting, we found only the highest (5) produced the color and texture we were seeking. Everything else emerged a tad limp and pale.

This model also feels flimsy, especially compared with the sturdy Chef’sChoice 840B and Breville Smart Waffle Pro 4 Slice. In addition to the imprecise browning dial, the lid wiggles from side to side. That said, it comes with a three-year warranty, which is much more generous than the one-year guarantees from our other picks.

Buying Options

The Krups GQ502 4 Slice Belgian produces four golden brown Belgian waffles at a time, so it’s a good choice for people who want to cook in batches but aren’t ready or willing to spring for the pricey Breville Smart Waffle Pro 4 Slice. And at 1 inch thick, the waffles are also heftier than those from the Chef’sChoice 840B or the Cuisinart. The Krups has a dial to adjust browning and beeps loudly when waffles are done. It’s also one of the few models we found with removable nonstick plates, which makes cleanup easier. We think it’s a good deal, though some may find it frustratingly slow.

One of the things we like best about the Krups, besides its capacity and price, is that the waffle plates detach from the machine. Once they’re cool you can pop them out, put them in the sink, and wash them thoroughly, which is so much easier than wiping them down while still in the machine. According to Krups, the plates are even dishwasher safe, though we always recommend hand-washing nonstick cookware to preserve its coating longer. So far, in our two years of long-term testing, that coating has held up well with hand-washing. The manual recommends oiling the plates just once each time you use the machine, and we’ve found that this is more than enough to keep waffles from sticking.

The Krups used to be our top pick, but a couple of issues—combined with a drop in price—have bumped it down to a budget pick. For one thing, it’s slow, taking between five and eight minutes to produce a batch of waffles. And though the browning dial adjusts on a scale of 1 (lightest) to 5 (darkest), we’ve found that you need to crank it up to 4 or 5 to get nicely golden waffles with a light, crisp crust. Waffles won’t get super dark on any of the settings, so you may need to leave them in even longer if that’s what you like.

Waffles from the Krups GQ502 4 Slice Belgian. Photo: Michael Hession

One tester also had trouble getting fully browned waffles from one of two Krups models she tried—some came out pale on top. A handful of Amazon reviewers seem to have encountered a similar issue. But subsequent tests on both of the machines produced even, golden waffles, and a Krups representative told us the company has received very few complaints about the issue. Other Wirecutter staff members who own the Krups say it has served them well over many mornings of use. We can’t figure out if the inconsistency some owners have seen is a flaw in the machine or user error and we haven’t been able to replicate the problem. But if you do encounter an ongoing issue, the Krups is covered by a two-year warranty, so we still feel comfortable recommending it, especially given the price.

Be sure to spread the batter before closing the lid, to avoid overflow. Photo: Michael Hession

When pouring batter into each of the four waffle squares, be careful to spread it around a little before closing the lid of the Krups. Although the manual says you can use ½ cup of batter per square, we found that this led to messy overflow unless we spread the batter around a little (as the manual also advises).

The lights on the Krups GQ502 4 Slice Belgian indicate when it is preheating or cooking (red) and when the machine or the waffle is ready (green). Photo: Michael Hession

Two lights on the Krups machine, one red and one green, indicate when it is preheating or cooking (red) and when the machine or the waffle is ready (green). These indicators are bright and easy enough to read, while the beep that sounds when the Krups is done preheating or baking is loud and clear.

The Krups takes up just about a foot of counter space, making it more compact than the bulky, four-waffle Breville Smart Waffle Pro 4 Slice. Thanks to a locking lid, it can be stored upright or flat, and a spool on the underside allows you to wrap the power cord neatly.

Buying Options

Thanks to a quadrant of deep-pocketed plates, the Breville Smart Waffle Pro 4 Slice excels at producing mass quantities of fluffy, 1-inch-tall waffles. It unfailingly delivered four identical, evenly golden waffles—something no other high-capacity model we tested could do. As long as you have a couple hundred dollars to burn, an unprecedented host of customization options means you’ll be duly rewarded with some seriously dialed-in waffles. Because not only can you fiddle with taste and texture, the machine also offers ideal cooking settings according to waffle type.

A knob on the Breville allows you to scroll through an impressive choice of 12 different brownness levels (the All-Clad Waffle Maker, which has the second-largest range of models we tested, has only seven). And they really do make subtle but discernible differences in shade and texture without the waffles emerging raw or burnt at either extreme. Also fun to play with—though less obviously effective—is a dial that automates cooking time based on the type of waffle you choose. We tested only the Belgian and classic settings (chocolate, buttermilk, and custom are also options), but the idea is that minutes are either added or subtracted to achieve a Belgian waffle’s tender center, for instance, or create a crisper, drier classic waffle. And you still have opportunities to make adjustments once your waffles are cooked. Pressing the “A Bit More” button adds a little more cooking time, allowing you to deepen browning without restarting the machine.

The Breville has an LCD screen where you can select cooking modes and brownness levels. Photo: Sarah Kobos

The Breville has several clear readiness indicators. It flashes the word “heating” as it preheats, then beeps loudly when it’s ready, while the LCD screen lights up orange. While cooking, a timer and progress indicator begin countdown, letting you know exactly when your waffles will be ready—a rare feature among waffle makers. Making yeasted Belgian waffles on the 6 brownness setting? You have precisely five minutes, 15 seconds to go do something else! Did you get caught up folding laundry? That’s okay—the machine will beep loudly when it’s done, and then every 30 seconds until you remove the waffles.

Housed in stainless steel that remains largely cool to the touch, and boasting a locking lid, the Breville Smart Waffle Pro 4 Slice is both sturdy and safe. But it’s also a bit of a beast, at 16¾ pounds, and takes up 15.8 by 8.8 by 18.5 inches of counter space (the Chef’sChoice weighs only 5 pounds, and measures around 12 by 12 by 5 inches). Yet, as long as you have room in your cabinets, you can still store it flat or upright. Breville also makes a more compact two-slice Smart Waffle Pro, for fewer waffles at a slightly gentler cost.

The Breville’s grids aren’t removable, which makes cleaning them a little trickier. But a built-in overflow moat helps guard against excess batter leakage (which is what made larger models with non-removable grids, like the Chef’sChoice 854, such a pain to clean). The Breville comes with a one-year limited warranty; not especially generous for such a costly machine.

You can coil the Breville’s cord around the underside of the machine for storage. Photo: Sarah Kobos

Care and maintenance

Most waffle makers’ manuals recommend oiling the grids with a paper towel or spray (such as Pam) before the first use. Be sure to discard the first waffle batch, which can absorb some unpleasant oiliness. After that, however, you shouldn’t need to oil the plates again (although our experts generally do).

Silicone-coated tongs make removing hot waffles without burning yourself easier (but you also have to be careful not to tear apart your waffle). Photo: Kimber Streams

“For getting the waffles out,” chef Matt Maichel said, “a wooden chopstick is good because you can get it under there. Don’t use any metal … if [the plate] gets scratched, it’ll turn into a sticky spot.” In testing, we found that chopsticks were also useful for scraping out burned bits, and tongs with silicone or nylon heads worked well for removing waffles, too.

The competition

We previously ranked the Hamilton Beach Belgian Style (26009) alongside the Cuisinart as one of two budget picks. Though it’s still a decent, low-cost choice if you’re into thick Belgian waffles, it lacks the consistency and speed of the Cuisinart. It’s also the only machine we actually burned ourselves on, because the only cool-touch surface is on the small, locking lid, which often catches when you’re trying to open it.

The Chef’sChoice WafflePro 830 Five-of-Hearts was actually neck-and-neck with the Chef’sChoice 840B during testing. Although there’s a definite market for “novelty” waffles (mini and fun-shaped makers are top sellers on Amazon), we believe the 840B will appeal to a wider range of people.

The four-waffle Chef’sChoice Classic WafflePro 854 has the browning and texture controls we like in the Chef’sChoice 840B, with the added benefit of higher capacity. However, excess batter consistently leaked from the sides and back, even when we scaled back to using less than ⅓ cup. Because you can’t remove the plates or submerge the unit, the machine was a nightmare to clean.

The Chef’sChoice WafflePro Classic Belgian 830B looks a lot like the Chef’sChoice 840B, and it’s a bit less expensive, but it did not perform nearly as well. Waffles came out unevenly cooked, and even with the dial on a medium setting, they were unpleasantly dark.

The All-Clad Waffle Maker isn’t worth its high price. It offered little in the way of special features, save for a beeping preheat/ready indicator and a flimsy browning dial that was difficult to regulate. Bisquick waffles were too dark on even the lowest settings, and yeasted waffles were too light on the highest settings.

The Chef’sChoice Classic WafflePro 852 was a runner-up in previous guides. Tasters praised its waffles’ consistency and crunch, but we found that they had a tendency to burn when the dial was on the highest setting.

The Cuisinart 4 Slice Belgian – Round (WAF-200) looks and feels high quality, but in our tests it cooked waffles unevenly, burning some parts and leaving others unappealingly pale. The same Bisquick batter that produced golden waffles in other models turned mealy inside this Cuisinart.

The Proctor Silex Mess Free Belgian Style (26044A) has features in common with the Chef’sChoice, such as browning controls and indicator lights, but we had a much tougher time getting it to produce a decent waffle. We deemed the first batch soggy, and in a subsequent batch, half the waffle cooked much faster than the other.

The Presto 03510 FlipSide Belgian is very well-reviewed on Amazon, but it cooked waffles unevenly and so quickly that they started to burn after just a few minutes. The other problem with this model is that it occupies a lot of counter space when in use. We did like the timer, though, and we wish other inexpensive models had one.

The Hamilton Beach Durathon Mess-Free Belgian (26043) has a unique shape that promises to prevent batter overflow. Unfortunately, it produces oddly concave waffles, with a wide ring of crisp batter around the edge. And when the lid is open, the appliance is top-heavy and unstable.

Although the Proctor Silex Round Belgian (26070) is the new version of a previous pick. We eliminated it because it lacks any kind of indicator and makes just one waffle at a time.

The non-flip Hamilton Beach Belgian Style (26020) has okay reviews, but reviewers indicate that it has the same steam problems as the cheap Cuisinart and Proctor Silex models, not to mention the lack of an indicator light, which means you need to carefully monitor this waffle maker at all times.

We eliminated the Oster Belgian (CKSTWF2000), one of that company’s few non-flip models, because of complaints from Amazon reviewers concerning poor construction and an inaccurate indicator light.

The Cuisinart Vertical Waffle Maker seems clever at first: It stands upright, and you pour batter into a spout at the top. But Amazon customers complain that the spout clogs easily and that it’s too small to allow add-ins such as blueberries or chocolate chips. Plus, this model won’t work at all if you want to waffle anything else, like grilled cheese or hash browns.